Gingerbread Cookie Wreath Recipe

Round up this wreath to serve at your caroling party or any occasion-it's a holiday decoration that's good enough to eat. "It makes a fun centerpiece at a luncheon or a children's party," comments subscriber Kelly Loudon of Olathe, Kansas.

Nutritional Facts

Directions

Prepare mix according to package directions for cookies. Set aside 1/4 cup dough. On a greased baking sheet, roll out remaining dough into a 9-1/2-in. circle. With a sharp knife, cut a 4-in. circle from the center of the 9-1/2-in. circle. Remove 4-in. circle; add to reserved dough. Bake 9-1/2-in. ring at 375° for 12-15 minutes or until edges are firm (do not overbake). Cool for 1 minute; remove to a wire rack.

Roll out reserved dough to 1/2-in. thickness. Cut out five musical notes and 10 holly leaves. Place 2 in. apart on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 375° for 10-12 minutes or until edges are firm. Remove to a wire rack to cool.

Dip holly leaves halfway in candy coating; sprinkle with green sugar. Place on a ring as show in photo. Cut a small hole in the corner of pastry or plastic bag; insert round tip. Fill with remaining candy coating. Squeeze a small amount on the back of cookies; attach to wreath. Pipe around edges of notes. Pipe small dots of coating above holly leaves to attach candies. Allow coating to set completely, about 30 minutes.Yield: 1 wreath.

Editor's Note: Confectionery coating is found in the baking section of most grocery stores. It is sometimes labeled "almond bark" or "candy coating" and is often sold in bulk packages of 1 to 1-1/2 pounds.

Originally published as Gingerbread Cookie Wreath in Country Woman
November/December 1997, p21